…harmonizes incentives to attract more businesses
By Abdul-Kadir Abdullah and Gloria Osemudiamhen
The Edo State Government has pledged continuous support for businesses operating in the State especially Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) so as to make the Edo the preferred investment destination for investors.
The pledge was made by the Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO)-Ease of Doing Business Secretariat, Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi at a workshop organized by ESIPO in support of GIZ-SEDIN to review the draft compendium of investment incentives.
Emphasizing the importance of the workshop, Mr. Uwaibi reiterated the State Government’s unwavering commitment to support Macro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in Edo State.
According to him, “in terms of programme collaboration, we are very keen on ensuring that Edo State is the preferred destination for investors and in doing that, His Excellency, Governor Goodwin Obaseki has already approved certain laws and policies that will improve the business environment in the State. For us in Edo State, the aim is to see that the state is the preferred destination for investors”
He added that the compelling need to have a compendium of investment incentives in order to make the process of doing business in the State seamless and attractive to potential investors made the workshop necessary.
He said: ” It is to be able to harmonize our incentives. Yes, we do have incentives. But what we are doing right now is to ensure that they are properly documented. That is why we are having this workshop with the various MDAs”
In her speech, Edo State Coordinator, GIZ-SEDIN, Blessing Ajimoti, said the workshop was part of the GIZ Pro-Poor Growth and Promotion Programme in Nigeria to strengthen the MSMEs adding that the workshop will aid the review of the recommendations on investment and business incentives which is a necessary tool to promote the growth of MSMEs in the State.
The Team Lead, Ease of Doing Business, ESIPO, Mr. Osaze Ogbomon in his presentation outlined the incentives to include transport environment, tourism, health among others, adding that when harmonized, the list of incentives will be put in a working document that will be widely published, including on the State Government’s website where it could be easily assessed by potential investors and the general public.
The various Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government were represented at the workshop to review the draft compendium of investment incentives.
